Wildlife Circus

    The latest report commissioned by Sustrans and the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames by Studio Dekka Limited June 2021 to discharge condition 10 of the planning application for the New Malden to Raynes Lane Cycle track, does not demonstrate compliance with the original Bat Survey Report or Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) – updated 2017. I have written to Richard Graves to enquire on the level of involvement his company has had with the bat assessment in the lighting report; he has been quoted in just two paragraphs. I have also stated that our surveys (light and bats) found the corridor no longer usable by bats for commuting at the western end (although foraging areas remain around  mature trees towards  Raynes Park). The report contains raw data with the lux levels calculated at ground level (it does not give the methodology or the conditions at the time).   It does not address bats except that ‘ the Beverley corridor must be protec...

Light pollution is a complicated issue for some bat species. It was dealt with unsatisfactorily within the Hydro Environmental Statement, with little reference to literature and no citations of the relevant bat studies, particularly those undertaken in the last 6 years. There has been  overall an unsatisfactory survey evaluation, due to a poor understanding of URBAN ECOLOGY, coupled with a determination to employ many different types of light arrangement  at the  FB's regardless of the survey findings, in order to ensure the Health and Safety of any future riparian residents. 2012 Bat Surveys commissioned at the FB's, should record how bats use the basins for foraging purposes. This habitat could be protected under European Law if it is found to be a significant feature that bats rely on in order to  feed and nurture their young (see earlier post on Habitats Regs). The timing of these surveys is CRITICAL. Surveys carried out during the full moon for example sho...